Assimi Goïta, the military leader of Mali, has the support of allies to continue as president until 2030

Military leader Gen Goïta has garnered political backing to prolong his rule until 2030, despite objections from opposition and rights groups. 

Mali’s military ruler, General Assimi Goïta, has garnered support from important political allies to maintain his role as president for the next five years, which could prolong his hold on power until 2030. 

The 41-year-old, who has taken power through coups on two occasions, was named transitional president after his latest takeover in 2021. Initially, he committed to conducting elections the next year, but he has since gone back on that promise—postponing the reestablishment of multi-party governance in the West African country. 

A national conference organized by the ruling regime, which was boycotted by prominent opposition parties, has now suggested that Gen Goïta stay in office until 2030. He has yet to make any public comments regarding the proposal, but the event is largely perceived as an attempt to validate his ongoing leadership. 

Opposition figures have expressed their resistance to the development. In a conversation with AFP over the weekend, opposition leader Mohamed Salia Touré cautioned that the dismantling of the multi-party system would constitute a “historic error.” 

On Wednesday, Amnesty International voiced its concerns, condemning what it referred to as a “proposal to dissolve all political parties in Mali.” Ousmane Diallo, the Sahel researcher for the organisation, expressed his alarm regarding the proposition, stating that such an action would constitute a blatant violation of the rights to freedom of expression and association. 

The recommendation’s implications regarding the dissolution of political parties, whether it pertains to all or only those not meeting specific criteria, remain ambiguous. 

Documents reviewed by AFP indicate that the conference also suggested suspending all electoral processes until peace is reestablished in the country. 

Since taking office, Gen Goïta has prioritized the fight against jihadist violence perpetrated by groups associated with Islamic State (IS) and al-Qaeda. He has formed partnerships with other military leaders in Burkina Faso and Niger, redirecting regional loyalties towards Russia and reducing ties with the former colonial power, France. 

Goïta also pulled Mali out of the regional bloc Ecowas, in response to its demands for the junta to restore democratic governance—a step that Burkina Faso and Niger have also taken. 

In August 2020, he executed his first coup, removing then-President Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta during widespread protests against government shortcomings and the escalating insurgency. Gen Goïta initially transferred authority to a civilian-led transitional government tasked with guiding the nation towards elections within a period of 18 months. 

Nonetheless, unhappy with the temporary leadership, he orchestrated a second coup in May 2021, thereby strengthening his control. Subsequently, Goïta, who was a colonel, was promoted to the rank of five-star general last year.